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Two former farmsteads, no longer in use as such. Mains of Aboyne (on the east of the site centred on NO 5257 9937) comprises three single storey and attic ranges arranged in U-plan around courtyard open to the east, constructed of coursed granite rubble with long and short dressings. The west range has a graded grey slate roof with lead and tiled ridge, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Coped granite gablehead and ridge stacks with circular and octagonal cans. Within the western elevation is a tooled lintel reading '17 CEA 57'. The northern range is a former cartshed and granary. The south elevation 7-bays and segmental-arched openings to right of ground floor. The east elevation is a near-symmetrical single bay with infilled segmental-arched opening. The north elevation 4-bays, with a square-plan engaged tower located at the penultimate bay to left. Small rectangular openings are in the three upper floors. A crenellated parapet with birdcage bellcote and bell is to the north, with a pyramidal slate spire. The bellcote belonged to the old Parish Church of Aboyne, and was moved to Mains of Aboyne when the church was replaced by the present church in 1862. All of these buildings are depicted on the 1st edition OS map. As well as these surviving buildings, a further range is shown on the west site, a horse-mill is shown attached on the west face of the west range, and to the south are three additional buildings, the southernmost of which has an attached enclosure. By the 2nd edition OS map the buildings to the south have been removed and there are additional small buildings to the west and north of the steading. To the north-west (centred on NO 5245 9940), a new, large, farm building has been added, known as Home Farm. This is a model farm built in 1889 by the architect George Truefitt for Sir William Close Brooks. This includes the 'Coo Cathedral' a surreal cowshed with fanlight windows, matching side wings and a basillican interior with arcades of dressed stone forming nave and aisles. The 2006 map shows that the smaller buildings by the original farm buildings have been removed, as has the eastern range of the U-shaped building. The southern range of the original buildings has been converted into offices and the Coo Cathedral is now a banqueting hall. Prior to conversion to offices, the southern range of the original farm buildings was recorded photographically internally and externally.
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Historic Environment Records (HER)